Read Online 04c Dreams of Fire and Gods: Gods by James Erich - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Erich
Tags: mm
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.”
“I did try, Your Grace,” the wizard replied. “But it’s a big step for a vönan to deliberately sever himself from the power of the Stronni, even though we’ve been cut off from it for several weeks now. None are yet willing to take it. They are all watching me to see if I burst into flame or, worse, become powerless.”
“I suppose we can’t blame them.”
Geilin shook his head and ran a hand over the spot where his tattoo had once been. He’d mentioned to Sael recently that it didn’t exactly hurt, but he could feel that it was missing. “No, Your Grace. But although I’ve found my training as a vönan an aid to learning Taaweh magic, the Taaweh themselves insist it isn’t essential. All men—and women—have the ability to learn it.”
Sael saw his father’s eye twitch at the obvious reference to Tanum, so he attempted to redirect the conversation. “Those young men looked familiar,” he said. “Who are their families?”
“They are stableboys!” his father snapped.
Sael was taken aback by this, but Geilin seemed unperturbed. “Only Nalekh lives in the stables, Your Grace. I believe his family resides in Tessam. Bol and Ahvi are brothers, and they live in the servants’ quarters.”
“The servants’ quarters?” Sael was just as surprised as his father. Master Geilin was creating a new order of mages… out of servants ?
“They were the only volunteers, Your Lordship,” Geilin explained patiently.
The vek sniffed. Then with an air of resignation, he asked, “Have they made any progress?”
“Today is their first day. It will take some time.”
“How much time?”
Geilin merely spread his hands to indicate he had no idea.
The vek gave him the bored half smile he normally reserved for servants he’d grown weary of talking to. “Carry on, then.”
Sael had no doubt that Geilin sensed the disapproval behind that smile, but the old man merely nodded and said, “Thank you, Your Grace. Your Lordship.”
He bowed formally and left them to return to his students, the stone wall melting away as he approached it.
Sael’s father muttered under his breath, “I confess I’m skeptical about how useful these new ‘mages’ will prove to be,” before heading back toward to the keep. Sael fell into step behind him.
This courtyard was somewhat smaller than the main courtyard, and it was bordered with decorative wading pools in the four corners and near the entrance. When Sael began to walk past one of these, something reflected in the water caught his eye, and he slowed to get a better look.
It was Koreh.
Not a ghostly apparition, but a very clear view of Koreh’s face and shoulders against a bright blue sky. The angle put his face in shadow, but there was enough light reflected up at him—rippling as though he were peering down into a moving river—that there was no mistaking it was him. His eyes lit up with recognition, as though he could see Sael too. Their eyes locked for just a brief moment, before something dark seemed to swim between them and the vision disappeared.
Sael staggered and made a grab for something to steady himself and was surprised to find his father there, though the man had been ahead of him a moment earlier. Sael’s hand gripped the vek ’s strong forearm tightly as he fought back the wave of grief that threatened to overwhelm him.
“Are you ill?” his father asked. “How do you summon that blasted Taaweh physician?” He was reacting with his usual haughtiness, but Sael could hear the note of concern in his voice.
“I’m all right, Father,” Sael told him, though he didn’t feel all right. His heart felt as if it were being wrenched out of his chest. “Just… a little lightheaded.”
It couldn’t have been Koreh. It had to have been a trick of the light.
But it was so clear.
“Have you eaten anything this morning?” the vek asked. Then without bothering to wait for an answer, he said, “Let’s get you inside. I’ll have something
“I did try, Your Grace,” the wizard replied. “But it’s a big step for a vönan to deliberately sever himself from the power of the Stronni, even though we’ve been cut off from it for several weeks now. None are yet willing to take it. They are all watching me to see if I burst into flame or, worse, become powerless.”
“I suppose we can’t blame them.”
Geilin shook his head and ran a hand over the spot where his tattoo had once been. He’d mentioned to Sael recently that it didn’t exactly hurt, but he could feel that it was missing. “No, Your Grace. But although I’ve found my training as a vönan an aid to learning Taaweh magic, the Taaweh themselves insist it isn’t essential. All men—and women—have the ability to learn it.”
Sael saw his father’s eye twitch at the obvious reference to Tanum, so he attempted to redirect the conversation. “Those young men looked familiar,” he said. “Who are their families?”
“They are stableboys!” his father snapped.
Sael was taken aback by this, but Geilin seemed unperturbed. “Only Nalekh lives in the stables, Your Grace. I believe his family resides in Tessam. Bol and Ahvi are brothers, and they live in the servants’ quarters.”
“The servants’ quarters?” Sael was just as surprised as his father. Master Geilin was creating a new order of mages… out of servants ?
“They were the only volunteers, Your Lordship,” Geilin explained patiently.
The vek sniffed. Then with an air of resignation, he asked, “Have they made any progress?”
“Today is their first day. It will take some time.”
“How much time?”
Geilin merely spread his hands to indicate he had no idea.
The vek gave him the bored half smile he normally reserved for servants he’d grown weary of talking to. “Carry on, then.”
Sael had no doubt that Geilin sensed the disapproval behind that smile, but the old man merely nodded and said, “Thank you, Your Grace. Your Lordship.”
He bowed formally and left them to return to his students, the stone wall melting away as he approached it.
Sael’s father muttered under his breath, “I confess I’m skeptical about how useful these new ‘mages’ will prove to be,” before heading back toward to the keep. Sael fell into step behind him.
This courtyard was somewhat smaller than the main courtyard, and it was bordered with decorative wading pools in the four corners and near the entrance. When Sael began to walk past one of these, something reflected in the water caught his eye, and he slowed to get a better look.
It was Koreh.
Not a ghostly apparition, but a very clear view of Koreh’s face and shoulders against a bright blue sky. The angle put his face in shadow, but there was enough light reflected up at him—rippling as though he were peering down into a moving river—that there was no mistaking it was him. His eyes lit up with recognition, as though he could see Sael too. Their eyes locked for just a brief moment, before something dark seemed to swim between them and the vision disappeared.
Sael staggered and made a grab for something to steady himself and was surprised to find his father there, though the man had been ahead of him a moment earlier. Sael’s hand gripped the vek ’s strong forearm tightly as he fought back the wave of grief that threatened to overwhelm him.
“Are you ill?” his father asked. “How do you summon that blasted Taaweh physician?” He was reacting with his usual haughtiness, but Sael could hear the note of concern in his voice.
“I’m all right, Father,” Sael told him, though he didn’t feel all right. His heart felt as if it were being wrenched out of his chest. “Just… a little lightheaded.”
It couldn’t have been Koreh. It had to have been a trick of the light.
But it was so clear.
“Have you eaten anything this morning?” the vek asked. Then without bothering to wait for an answer, he said, “Let’s get you inside. I’ll have something
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